Why and when did Montel Williams become a shill for big Pharma?

[NNguyenMD]

Does he seriously think that the only road to developing effective treatments for diseases is to maximize the corporate profits of these astronomically wealthy companies?

[montanacowboy]

1. Every time I see that commercial

I just laff; what an idiot he makes of himself hawking that shit

[hlthe2b]

2. his MS has obviously influenced his thinking...

grasping for a cure, which I certainly hope is out there..

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. How big is Montel Williams' house?

[hlthe2b]

8. no idea...

I'm not implying what some might be--that he's getting big payoffs or whatever. I think he sincerely wants to work with those big pharma companies that have the best chance at developing new treatments for MS and other serious diseases. Seems logical to me...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Maybe because he's got M.S.?

And he's an advocate for M.S. research? And Pfizer does M.S. research?

[NNguyenMD]

5. my point exactly, the research break throughs don't come from the

corporations, they come from NIH (National Institute of Health aka your tax money) funded laboratories at major universities, hospitals and research centers all across the country.

The corporations piggy-back on a lot of published research findings that were paid for by AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS, and will base any new products they develop off of that.

But they are by no means the guardians of all future cures, not by a long shot.

I'm very saddened to see that he's let himself get brainwashed by the notorious Pharmaceutical lobby.

He should pressure them to divert some of the billions of dollars used by big pharma to pay for the superbowl ads and those shitty pads and pencils that litter doctor offices and hospitals around America to fund more groundbreaking research.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Oh, horseshit.

Corporations spend billions on research.

[NNguyenMD]

9. no AMERICANS spend BILLIONS on research year after year

its called the National Institute of Health, and it is the engine the drives virtually all of the clinical and basic science research of America.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. Yes, the NIH spends billions every yar...

and so do corporations.

[NNguyenMD]

12. they use the research data paid by YOU, make a product and then

charge YOU a killing for it.

How does that make YOU feel?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. They make the drugs and patent them.

How many drugs have you patented?

[NNguyenMD]

17. They patent them, and they renew those patents to no end to ensure that

they are able to empty the pockets of Americans to the very last penny.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Tell you what...

write a grant to the NIH, cure something, patent it, then you can make money too.

[PA Democrat]

28. Here are a few good articles on the misconceptions about big pharma's R&D expenditures.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2004/09/09_401.html?welcome=true

http://www.citizen.org/publications/release.cfm?ID=7065

The top 5 best selling drugs were developed using public funds.

Much of the research that the drug companies are doing are for the development of "me too" drugs, rather than innovative new treatments.

Pharma spends 2.5 more times on marketing and administration than on R&D.

Much more good info in the articles.

And no, I haven't patented any drugs, but I know highway robbery when I see it.

[NNguyenMD]

30. couldn't have said it better myself

[PA Democrat]

33. ANother point. US is one of only two countries that permit direct marketing

of drugs to consumers. I think that New Zealand is the only other country that permits it.

[hlthe2b]

13. While I agree that the basic research that you and I fund...

is exploited by Big Pharma, you know, of course that they also do considerable R&D. Now, I dislike being put in a position to try to defend big Pharma, as I have my own considerable issues. But, the issue is not quite as one-sided as you suggest.

[NNguyenMD]

22. my biggest beef with Pharma is that they should feel compelled to give americans

a freaking price break for the medicines they've contributed to developing. I believe the funds for research only up to a certain point, state governments should show more cajones and MAKE Pharma agree to price negotiations for their drugs. These companies are amongst the most profitable in the world, they're not going to go bankrupt, and they have no right to fool the American people into thinking that they can take the cures of tommorow hostage so that they can take all your money today.

[hlthe2b]

26. agree.. I made note in another post that beginning with Reagan,

researchers at Federal agencies, including both NIH and CDC were no longer encouraged to protect patent rights from their findings on behalf of the taxpayer. As with Repug doctrine since then, the mantra was privatization, and the sooner governmental research could be transferred to the profit-making private sector, the better, public interest be damned... :eyes:

[hlthe2b]

11. yes.. that is true

but big pharma is a necessary "evil" in our current system. NO drug, biologic, or device is going to come to market without them.

[NNguyenMD]

16. I'm not sure if thats true, Pharma exists for the chief purpose of

making sure that Americans pay the highest price affordable (and beyond) for medicines.

I don't necessarily agree that the high costs of medicines pays for a whole lot of research, but a lot of it pays for marketing gimmicks and lines the pockets of board room members.

[hlthe2b]

19. I said, it is a necessary evil in our current system...

I'm all for changing that system... Like I said, I detest being put in a position to have to defend an exploitive greedy corporatist system, like our pharmaceutical giants. But, right now, BIG Pharma is a double edged sword--and we currently have little choice but to take the considerable good, with the bad.

I'm all for changing the system, but we have to get the REPUG corporatists out of office. Reagan stopped FEDERAl agencies and their researchers from being able to retain patents... It all went downhill from there..

[PA Democrat]

31. I posted these links further up-thread. They support what you have been saying 100%

http://www.citizen.org/publications/release.cfm?ID=7065

http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2004/09/09_401.html?welcome=true

[NNguyenMD]

32. they are much appreciated friend, thank you

Hopefully others will be able to see for themselves as well.

[Mojorabbit]

6. Is this his commercial

re help from the big pharm companies on obtaining meds? The injections which I do not take cost over a grand a month and most people cannot afford them. Then again you have to be almost destitute to qualify for the pharm plans.

[Buck Laser]

15. They paid him?... nt

[Horse with no Name]

20. Well I know one thing

There are lots of people out there that need financial help with their medications that Doctors such as yourself do not or cannot address.
What Montel does is provides a way for hundreds of American's to get their much needed medication.
They GIVE medication away. They aren't selling it.
They GAVE it to a local woman a few months ago. No strings attached.
For poor people, it is the difference between living and dying.

[patricia92243]

24. Get my thyroid meds for free - used the Montel information to help me get started.

[NNguyenMD]

27. I think that that wonderful, I'm very happy that you are able to get them from

the program.

But I think what would be better is if state and federal goverments would stop taking those big payoffs from Pharma, and force them to do something even more generous, like negotiate down the prices that they are allowed to charge everyone in the country for medicine, and to give up their strangehold on patents on drugs that should be released to generic manufacturers.

[NNguyenMD]

25. Its more than this commercial though, he's helped Pharma lobby

for legislation allowing them to extend patents on medicines that should be open for generic manufacturing.

This olive branch that the pharmaceutical industry is extending, albeit good to some degree, is unfortunately nothing more than PR used to distract people from realizing that these companies are milking Americans for all the money that they're worth.

And I'll bet you that the number of people who they do help with this new program will be but a smidget of the enormous healthcare crises that middle class America faces today.

[youngdem]

21. Because he has MS and thinks that he can help by helping them

His main involvement is actually in the disbursement of their free or virtually free medication to the needy. They came here to New Orleans and handed some stuff out.

[Cleita]

23. He has a progressive disease. I can't remember if it's

multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy. (If you are curious, he explains it on his website.) I think he thinks that big PHARMA saved him with its wonder drugs. Of course he can well afford the best of medical care so he probably is looking at this with blinders on.

[NNguyenMD]

29. agree with what you say, thought this link would show that he's done other favors for pharma

besides pitching this program.

and you were correct, he has Multiple Sclerosis.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20021002/ai_n12481285

Oct 2, 2002

WASHINGTON--Large brand-name pharmaceutical companies are waging what appears to be a successful lobbying and public relations battle to prevent the House from taking up a bill that would make it easier to market generic drugs.

The Senate already has passed the legislation, but no Republican sponsor of a House companion measure has signed on to a Democratic effort to force a vote. At least one Democrat, Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, has asked that his name be removed from the petition drive.

As of Tuesday, Democrats had 141 signatures on a petition to force a vote this year, but 218 are needed.

"We definitely had expected to see a little more momentum," said Janell Mayo Duncan, legislative counsel for Consumers Union. "We're kind of perplexed."

The fight is over a bill that would limit brand-name pharmaceutical companies' usage of patent laws to thwart generic competition. The Senate passed the legislation in July, with sponsors saying it was to help Americans cope with rising prescription drug costs.

The trade group representing brand-name companies, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, has had under way for several weeks a massive advertising campaign opposing the bill.

Tuesday, the group, known as Phrma, raised the ante by pulling out celebrity advocates to urge lawmakers to reject the bill. Among those visiting lawmakers' offices were talk show hosts Montel Williams and Leeza Gibbons.

"If today we stop the ability to do this, there will be no hope for a cure for me," said Williams, who has multiple sclerosis.

Gibbons, whose mother has Alzheimer's disease, said, "The current system that's in place is working. New drugs, innovative therapies are happening. We want to encourage lawmakers to just pause for a moment."

Both said they were visiting Congress at their own expense.

"It is time for the Bush administration and House Republicans to start paying more attention to the medical needs of senior citizens and less to the profit margins of big drug companies that are abusing the system," said Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the measure's Senate sponsor, said, "Obviously, if there were no Phrma, this bill would be law by now. Phrma pulls out all the stops."

House Republican sponsors of the measure said they oppose the Democratic effort to bring the bill to the floor immediately because House committees have not worked on it.

"Let's not play election-year politics with such an important piece of legislation," Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, (R-Mo.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), wrote in a letter to lawmakers.